FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[fells]

Strange, no activity here today. Middlebury wins 13-0 over Bates but the Panthers were flat on offense and committed penalties at the wrong times. The defense was outstanding as always.

If the offense plays the way they did today there is no way they will beat Trinity. They will have to perform much better than they did today.

[Col. Partridge]

I was away and was not able to listen on the internet, but it appears Wes didn't play up to their potential.

Now there is 4-way tie for first place.  If they play the way they played yesterday, it seems to me Trinity should be the favorite to win out...but this league has been hard to predict this year.

[Trin9-0]

A four way tie for 1st place in week 6 and the top teams are all playing each other! This looks to be one of the most exciting weeks of NESCAC football in a long time (especially this late in the season).

If the Bants and Jeffs can pull out wins then there will be a monster showdown in Amherst the following week. On the other hand if the Panthers and Jumbos win their games we might be watching these two play a NESCAC Championship game at Tufts on Nov 10th. Who knew?

[fells]

This is going to be a great weekend for NESCAC football. Trinity/Middlebury is very intriguing and Amherst/Tufts should be a great battle as well.

Here is the preview of the Middlebury/Trinity game: www.vermontradioguy.blogspot.com

[Trin9-0]

I enjoyed Tom Haley's article on the D3football.com Northeast - Around the Region. He does an excellent job of highlighting the traditions and rivalries that help make the NESCAC such a great league. He also articulates how the ban of football teams to compete in the NCAA playoffs is unfair and discriminatory.

And while he mentions the oft debated 9th game I feel as though he may be a little off in his understanding of a possible schedule change.

My understanding of the article is that Haley believes a 9th game would allow Middlebury to add instate rival Norwich University to their schedule. And while I'm sure the Middlebury folks would love to bring back the Midd-Norwich U game it is not something that will happen with the advent of a 9th game.

Even if the league presidents were to added a game to the schedule it would be a  NESCAC opponent who they don't play... not an out of conference team.

[fells]

I, like Tom, feel very strongly about adding a ninth game because of that rivalry. A Norwich/Middlebury game would be HUGE in this state, especially since they are the only two teams in the state that play college football. In talking to people over the last couple of years, this is something people want and would go to.

I not only agree with one additional game, but adding two so all teams can play each other, and play an out of conference game as well. Tom and I spoke about this on Monday, and obviously from one of my quotes, it is something I would like to see.

[Trin9-0]

Many people have been wanting to see a 9th NESCAC game for a long time and even that is unlikely to happen. I can all but guarantee the league presidents won't add TWO games to the schedule including a nonleague opponent.

Don't misunderstand me, I agree with you and Tom 100% and would LOVE to see a 10 game or even 9 game schedule along with the opportunity to see a NESCAC team in the NCAA playoffs. However, it isn't something I see happening.

[frank uible]

Add both a 9th and also a 10th game, and see what happens. I bet the sun would rise on the following day.

[Trin9-0]

Add both a 9th and also a 10th game, and see what happens. I bet the sun would rise on the following day.

I'll wait to see the Captain's odds on that prediction before I place any bets.

[Col. Partridge]

That's a PICK 'EM

[BTEXPRESS]

Is the 9th game issue a battle between the Head Football coaches and the NESCAC Presidents? As a Football coach, I can not see why they would not want to play a 9th game. If anything, it should help resolve a potential tie if all the conference members at least play each other in a season. It would have to help in recruiting as well. Maybe if the Head Coaches and ADs' push to get two extra games and into the NCAA playoffs, the Presidents will compromise and make the scrimmage game into the 9th game. One can only dream!!! It just makes no sense to me that all the other conference sports can contend for a National title and the football teams can not even play every team in the conference. Some one please explain the rationale.

[fells]

The way it has been explained to me is that the NESCAC does not want to add games because of the amount of time football takes, and they do not want to have the kids come back early from summer break. As this is the Northeast, weather concerns have also been cited.

Now do I think this is a good explanation? No, I don't. Every other sport can play out of the conference and in the post-season; not allowing football the same to me is just wrong. These are athletes who I am sure would love a chance to play in the post-season, and to play more games. I think that allowing teams to play outside of the conference and in the playoffs would help when it comes to recruiting. There is national exposure that could be gained in the playoffs which of course would be good for the conference.

[BTEXPRESS]

Fell, Thank you for the explanation. I agree it can not only help recruit potential Football players, but also help give the schools more national exposure. How does making the scrimmage into an additional game add any more practice or extend the season? It would still be over by the middle of November.

[frank uible]

If one puts emotion aside and uses his imagination, one can think of at least one other possible and not completely outlandish reason, which I will not state here because its validity is pure speculation on my part.

[Col. Partridge]

You've piqued my interest, Frank.  Please speculate for my edification.